Fruit orienting machine



Nov- 11', 1958 R. D. FOX ETAL FRUIT ORIENTING METHOD AND MACHINE a. I 2% J5? a Q r 6536 w Filed Sept. 2, 1948 Nov. 11, 1958 R. D.IFOX ETAL' 2,859,856

FRUIT ORIENTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 g in w W W J/emy 33: W,

Nov. 11, 1958 Filed Sept. 2. 1948 R. D. FOX ET AL FRUIT ORIENTING METHOD AND MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR-S Nov. 11; 1958 R D. FOX ET AL 2,859,856

FRUIT ORiENTING METHOD AND MACHTINE Filed Sept. 2, 1948 8 SheetsSheet 5 W 5 I W III'I INVENTORS- 4511170 1 6 62 345% Md way 7% Nov. 11, 1958 I R. D. FOX ET AL 2,859,856

FRUIT ORIENTING METHOD AND MACHINE 7 Filed Sept. 2, 1948 s Sheets-Shet s INVENTOR5 Ec%d7% 7 0,6 //67Z7 (5 W/m/ $2) 1/ Nov. 11, 1958 R. D. FOX ET AL FRUIT ORIENTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 jam? 3% Zvm/ Em M 7 Nov. 11, 1958 R. D. Fox ET AL FRUIT ORIENTING METHOD AND MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Sept. 2, 194a INVENTORS, mmz 2.1/51: 172723 4. 5/@

United States Patent FRUIT ORIENTING MACHINE Richard Fox, Richmond, Calif., and Henry A. Skog, Olympia, Wash., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application September 2, 1948, Serial No. 47,464

24 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This invention relates to a fruit orienter method and machine, and more particularly to a method and machine for orienting peaches or like fruit.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method and machine for orienting fruit, particularly peaches and like fruit, both as to its stem indent and as to its suture plane so that such fruit may betaken from a bulk or mass and delivered in proper or1entat1on to any desired processing mechanism.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed for orienting cherries as to stem indent and various suggestions have heretofore been made as to the use of such or similar devices for orienting peaches and like fruit as to stem indent. However, such devices have not been satisfactory for the orienting of peaches and like fruit as to stem indent because of the high percentages of failures, i. e., unoriented fruit, delivered by the orienting device to the subsequent processing means. It has heretofore been thought that in order to orient the fruit as to stem indent it was necessary to impose some restriction on the rotation or turning of the fruit with the orienting member or wheel in order that the fruit would be stopped and its further rotation prevented when the fruit was aligned with its indent facing the orienting member or wheel, or, alternatively, to provide some form of fruit supporting member or plate capable of stably supporting the fruit when the indent was thus aligned with the orienting member so that such support or plate could hold the fruit out of engagement with the orienting member or wheel once it was thus aligned or faced in such direction. Applicants have found, however, that fruits such as peaches can successfully be oriented, and the number of orienting failures reduced or eliminated, by eliminatingv or reducing to a minimum the restrictions imposed on the free turning or rotation of the fruit by the orienting member and by shaping and sizing the orienting member or wheel in proper relation to the shape and size of the fruit, particularly peaches, which it is desired to orient.

More specifically, applicants have found that substantially one hundred percent orientation of heterogeneously fed peaches may be secured by the substantially free rotation of each peach by an orienting member or wheel shaped to penetrate deeply into the stem indent and that continued movement of such orienting member, or rotation of the orienting wheel, will not disturb the orientation of the peach even though no substantial restriction is imposed on the free rotation of the peach.

It is accordingly a further object of the invention to provide a peach orienting mechanism so constructed that the free movement of the peach during the orienting operation is restricted only to the extent necessary to prevent the fruit from being displaced out of engagement with the orienting member of wheel and that the free rotation of the peach during the orienting operation is insured.

Patented Nov. 11, 1958 A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide, with each orienting mechanism employing an orienting member or wheel as Substantially the entire support for a peach during the turning of the peach by said member or wheel to orient the stem indent of the peach, fruit confining means, arms or jaws forming fruit receiving openings or fruit confining members so spaced as to prevent the peach from being tilted, or falling, out of driving engagement with the orienting member or wheel during the orienting operation and to impose substantially no restriction on the free turning of the peach during such orienting operation.

Previously proposed orienting devices for peaches and like fruit have also been unsatisfactory because of their limited capacity in respect to the rate at which properly oriented peaches are delivered to the discharge end of the orienting mechanism or machine.

It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide high speed orienting mechanism receiving peaches directly from a hopper or other bulk container and operating continuously at a uniform rate limited only by the rate at which peaches can be handled without damage thereto rather than by the time required for the orienting operation.

The limited capacity of prior orienting machines or devices has been due to either the intermittent, therefore slow, overall speed of operation of the feeding mechanism or the orienting mechanism or the inability, by reason of the particular constructions employed, to utilize the full capacity of the feeding mechanism or the orienting mechanism or both mechanisms. For example, previous proposals have been made to employ continuous, separate conveyors feeding the fruit and for moving the orienting mechanisms over their predetermined paths. In such arrangements the orienting mechanisms operated on the fruit during less than half of the travel time or each orienting device and the fruit receiving devices actually feed the fruit during less than half of their travel time. Consequently, in any one instance at least half of the orienting devices and half of the feed devices are useless for their intended purposes.

The present invention contemplates a peach orienting machine utilizing the peach feeding mechanisms and the peach orienting mechanisms for their entire limits of movement. The capacity of prior machines have also been unsatisfactorily low because of the necessity of providing in such machines means for transferring fruit from a hopper or other bulk container to other feeding mechanisms by which the fruit is carried to the orienting mechanism.

Accordingly it is another object of applicants invention to provide a fruit orienting machine in which the fruit is delivered directly to the orienting mechanisms from a suitable hopper or other bulk container.

Other objects of the invention are to provide in a fruit orienter new and improved means, receptacle, grippers or the like completely open at the bottom to receive and confine the fruit in the proper position on an orienting member or wheel without imposing any substantial restriction on the free turning or rotation of the fruit by the orienting wheel; to provide a fruit orienting machine having fruit feeding means and orienting means operable continuously at the same uniform rate; to provide fruit orienting means operable at the same rate in the fruit feeding direction while at the same time the orienting devices are operable at a different rate to turn the fruit and orient the same while the fruit is being fed; to provide a fruit orienting device by which each article of fruit may be rotated about a plurality of relatively angularly disposed axes by the same orienting member to aid the orienting member in finding the stem indent; to provide an orienting device for peaches and like fruit capable not only of locating and orienting the stem indent but also locating-andorienting the-peach as to its suture plane or the long axis of itsstem indent; to provide a fruit orienting machine in which a single conveyor carries both the fruit receivingorholding means which receives the fruit direct from a hopper or other bulk container and'orienting devices by which the fruit is oriented as to stem indent and suture plane; to provide inan orienter for peaches and like-fruit, means to vibrate the fruit after the stem indent has been located and while the wheel is non-rotative toefiect-suture plane orientation or to cause the -orienting memberor wheel to enterthe stem indent to its deepest position; to provide a fruit orienting machine ormechanism wherein the orienting member or wheel-is aspaced vertically belowthe fruit receiving or holdingmeans or. grippers so that such means or grippers willimpose-substantially no restrictions on the turning of the fruit .b'y'the' orienting member or wheel and the fruit will a not be jammed or forced against such means or grippers by the turning force applied to the fruit by the-orienting member or wheel; to provide in an orienting machine or mechanism normally spaced relatively movable means for centralizing the fruit on the orienting member or wheel and to straighten the fruit after it has been oriented as to stem indent and suture plane so that the suture plane extends vertically or coincides with the plane :of the orienting member or wheel; to provide inan orienter for peaches and like fruit, an orienting member of wheel capable-of entering the stern indent of the fruit to the fullest possible extent so that continued movement or rotation of the member or wheel, or vibration thereof, will not cause fruit already oriented to be moved therefrom to an unoriented position; to provide am'ethod and apparatus for orienting fruit by utilizing the force of gravity, or the weight of the fruit, to hold itin' oriented position once it has been oriented eventhough the orienting wheel continues its movement oi' -rotation'; to provide a new and improved mechanism for simultane'ouslydriving pea'chconveyor and orienting mechanisms'and drivingthe orienting mechanisms relative to the feed conveyor as they are being caused to move in 'syn'chronism'with the feed conveyor; to provide new and improved means for feeding fruit from a hopper or other bulk source or container into orienting devices or' mechanisms; to provide a new and improved orienting mechanism including-an orienting wheel rotatable about one axis to" turn the fruit and turnable about an axis transverse to the first axis so that unoriented fruit may be-rotatedsuccessively about different axes to effect the most-rapid location of the stem indent, or stem indent andsutureplane, by the orienting wheel; to provide in a fruit orienter an orienting member or wheel periodically. driven or rotated to turn the fruit and periodically disconnected from' its driving means while'being turned relative to the fruit so that the fruit is periodically driven about different angularly related axes rapidly to orient the'fruit; to provide an orienting apparatus comprising a rotating wheel proportioned to fit the average size and shape of stem indent and forming the sole bottom support for the fruit during its orientation, together with laterally positioned fruit holding means positioned well above the wheel, to limit the tilting of the fruit while on the wheel,.

to prevent the fruit from falling out of engagement with the wheel-and to centralizethe fruit over the wheel; to provide ina fruit orienting machine. a plurality of fruit orienting wheels cooperatively disposed with respect to a like-plurality of fruit receiving or holding means or grippers and transported by the same carrier orconveyor; and to provide a new and improved orienting machine Whichin general shall bemore simple,-eificient inoperation, and capable of handlingand orienting peaches or like indented and seamed fruit of various sizes. with a 'of adjustments.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in vertical section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View partly in elevation and partly in section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8'is anenlargedview in' vertical section taken along the line 88 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 99 of Fig. l;

Fig. 10 is .a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 1010 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along the line 11-41 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12' is a fragmentary'view in perspective of the mounting support for the'orienting wheel and a portion of its drive mechanism;

Fig-13 is'an exploded perspective view'showing the orienting wheel, spindle and wheel drive;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, enlarged plan view of the peach receiving and holding means;

Fig. 15 is] a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line'1515 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of' the fruit receiving and holding mechanism of Figs. 14 and 15;

Fig. 17 is a view in section taken substantially along the line 17-17 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is .a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the proposed'grippers and fruit receiving holding means in open position;

Figs. '19to 23 are operation illustrating diagrams taken along position'lines at statio'ns19-l9 to 23-23 inc1usive of Figs. 2 and 6;

Figs. 19A to-23A are operation diagrams corresponding to c:heroperation diagrams of Figs. '19 to 23 respectively, an

Figs. 24 to 29 inclusive are diagrammatic'illustrations exemplary of 'the manner in which an orienting" wheel may operate to orient a peach or like fruit'in the machine of Figs. l to 23A and the cooperative functioning of the fruit receiving and holding means.

A preferred embodiment of the machine as disclosed in the drawings comprises a machine frame, Figs. 1 to 7, having 'side plates 2 and 4 spaced apart by a plurality of cross members such as the cross members 6 and 8, and others not'shown. Angle irons 10 and 12 extend longitudinally of the side plates 2"and 4 at the upper ends thereof and like angle irons (not shown) extend longitudinally of the side plates at the bottom thereof to form supporting feet for the machineframe. A stationary, supporting column or shaft 14 is secured in a boss 16 in the crossmember 6 and also in' a' like'boss' of a similar cross member (not shown) positioned near the bottom of the machine frame.

A platform 18 mounted in any convenient manner upon the side plates supports a combined motor and speed reducer ZO WhiCh has a slow speed shaft 22 which drives a plurality of orienting mechanisms 24 and a high speed shaft 26'which drives a fruit vibrator mechanism 28.

A second motor'30' which may if desired be mounted inany convenient manner upon a platform (not shown) secured to one or both of the side plates drives thefruit conveying means or turret 32 and simultaneously causes the orienting mechanisms 24 to travel with the fruit conveying means or turret 32.

The fruit conveying means 32 comprises a ring turret or disk 34, Figs. 1 and 3 to 5, keyed to a sleeve 36, Fig. 4, journaled on the column or shaft 14, the sleeve being keyed at its lower end to a spiral gear 38 driven by a spiral pinion 40, Fig. l, secured to a cross shaft 42 journaled in suitable brackets (not shown) fastened to the side plates 2. and 4. The shaft 42 is driven by the motor through a sprocket 44 on the motor 30, chain 46, a sprocket 48 mounted on the cross shaft 50 carrying a gear 52 meshing with a gear 54 on the shaft 42. A ring 56 is mounted in vertically spaced relation on the main turret disk 34 as by screws 58 and spacing sleeves 60.

The ring 56 overlies the rim of the main turret disk 34, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, and is provided with a plurality, namely fifteen, apertures 62 preferably circular and of a diameter sufficient to permit ready passage of peaches of the largest size which it is desired to orient by means of the machine. The openings or apertures 62 are equally and arcuately spaced around the ring 56. The main turret disk 34 is provided with a similar series of openings or apertures 64 also equally and arcuately spaced around the disk and vertically aligned with the apertures 62 in the ring 36. Fruit is fed to the ring 56 and the turret disk 34 from a hopper 66 or other bulk container, or from a suitable bulk conveyor, from which the peaches roll down chute 68 having .above the ring 56 and the turret disk 34 an open bottom or arcuate slot and sidewalls 70, 72, 74 and 76. The open bottom or arcuate slot in the bottom of the chute allows the peach to roll from the chute 68 onto the surface of the ring 56 and hence to fall through an opening 62 as it passes between the sidewalls 72 and 76 and therefrom to pass through an opening 64 in the main turret disk onto an arcuate plate 78 having an outer arcuate wall 82 and into fruit receiving or holding means or grippers of which there is a plurality of sets corresponding to the number of openings in the ring 56 and the main turret disk 34.

Each fruit receiving or holding means or grippers comprise a pair of generally V-shaped clamps 86 and 88, best seen in Figs. 14 to 18. The grippers 86 and 88 are formed integrally with arms 90 and 92 mounted by pivot bolts 94 and spacing sleeves 96 on the main turret disk 34. The arms 90 and 92 form the offset portions 98 which pass between the ring 56 and the turret disk 34 and are also formed with dependent portions 100 joining the V-shaped clamps 86 and 88 to the arms 90 and 92 and passing through an opening 64 in the turret disk. It should be noted that the openings 64 in the turret disk are formed with slots 102 to receive the dependent portions 100 when the clamps 86 and 88 are moved to fully opened positions. Arms 90 and 92 are formed with interengaging teeth or gear segments 104 and 106 to cause the arm 92 to move simultaneously in the opposite direction when the arm 90 is actuated.

The arm 90 is provided with an integral arm portion 108 extending inwardly from the mounting of pivot bolt 94 and provided at its inner end with the cam follower or roller 110 riding upon the surface of a circular cam 112 pinned to the stationary column or shaft 14. The arms 90 and 92 are interconnected and urged toward each other by a spring 114 secured at one end to a pin 116 carried by the arm 90 and the other end to a pin 118 carried by the arm 92. The spring 114 therefore urges the clamps or fruit grippers 86 and 88 to closed position and they are moved to open position by the stationary cam 112 as the grippers move about their circular path with the turret disk 34. The inner surfaces 120 and 122 of the opposed clamps or grippers 86 and 88 are inclined or tapered, as best seen in Figs. 17 and 18, for purposes which will presently appear. The V-shaped character or formation of the grippers or clamps enables the fruit grippers or ,clamps to centralize each peach radially of the turret.

A wheel-like member 124, Fig. 4, has a central hub por tion 126 surrounding the sleeve 36 and has a ring flange 128 abutting and depending from the turret disk 34. The wheel-like member 124 is secured to the sleeve 36 or to the disk 34 for rotation therewith. A ring 130 having an annular flange 132 at its lower end is mounted on the ring flange 128 and forms a mounting for the orienting mechanisms 24, which are equal in number to the number of openings, namely 15, in the ring 56 and the main turret disk 34. Ring 130 is provided with annularly spaced axially extending bosses 134, Figs. 4 and 9, receiving mounting bolts 136 by which the ring is adjustably secured to the turret disk 34. A spacing member or members 138 are interposed between the disk 34 and the bosses 134 to adjust the orienting mechanisms vertically with respect to the turret disks 34 and the fruit receiving means or grippers 84, the adjustment being accomplished by substituting for the spacing member or members 138 a like member or members of different thickness.

Each orienting mechanism 24 comprises an orienting member or wheel 140, Figs. 8 to 13, which is relatively small in diameter, for example, from one and three-eighths inches to one and three-quarters inches, in relation to the size of the peach, or other like fruit, as illustrated in Figs. 24 to 29.

The wheel 140 is positioned within a slot 142 of a spindle 144 and journaled on a cross pin 146 press fitted or other otherwise secured to the spindle 144. A Geneva gear 148 and a Geneva lock plate 150 are secured to the spindle 144, the Geneva lock plate 150 having four equal arcuate lock surfaces 152. The reduced lower portion 154 of the spindle 144 is journaled in an apertured boss 156 of a supporting unit 158, best seen in Fig. 12. This supporting unit may comprise a U-shaped bracket 160 bolted to the annular flange 132 of the annular ring 130, bracket 160 having secured to it spaced arms or bars 162 and 164 to which is secured or with which is integrally formed a bracket 166 providing the vertical spindle journaling boss 156. The depending arms of the bracket 160 also form the mounting support and journals for a shaft 168 to which is secured a spiral pinion 170 and a gear 172.

The spiral pinion 170 meshes with and is rotated by a large spiral gear 174, keyed to sleeve 176 concentric with the column or shaft 14. Sleeve 176 has keyed to its lower end a spiral gear 178 driven by a spiral pinion 180 on a shaft 182 journaled in suitable bearing brackets (not shown) secured to the side plates 2 and 4. The shaft 182 is driven by the slow speed shaft 22 of the combined motor and speed reducer 18 as by means of a sprocket 184 on the shaft 22, a chain 186 and a sprocket 188 on the shaft 182.

Gear 172, Fig. 10, meshes with a gear 190 secured to a shaft 192 journaled in the forward ends of the arms 162 and 164. A drive spool 194 of hour glass form is secured to the shaft 192 for rotation thereby and its concave surface, which is concentric to the axis of rotation of the orienting wheel 140 when the wheel contacts the driving spool, is adapted frictionally to rotate the orienting wheel. It should be noted that the horizontal distance between the vertical planes through the axis of rotation of the orienting wheel and the axis of rotation of the driving spool is less than the sum of the radius of the wheel and the spool when the wheel is perpendicular to the spool axis and that the horizontal planes through the respective axes are vertically spaced so that the orienting wheel engages the surface of the driving spool at the point above the horizontal plane through the spool axis. The orienting wheel is periodically raised out of driving engagement with the drive spool 194 and while out of engagement is revolved or rotated about the axis of the spindle 144, i. e., about a vertical axis. This disengagement of the wheel or spool is accomplished by suitable wheel raising mechanism or means,

in'the'formof cam blocks'196, 198, 200 "and 202, best seen-in Figs. and 6, with the blocks having -inclined beveled end portions and being bolted to mounting ring 204 fastened to and suppbrted upon brackets such as 206 fastened to the longitudinal frame bars 10 and 12.

- The spindle-144 of the orienting mechanism is of such length that the bottom end of its reduced portion 154 terminates above the mounting ring 204, as illustrated in Fig. 8. When the-spindle is carried, by the turning of the turret, to one of the cam blocks the lower end of the spindle engages the leading beveled end of the cam block and is thereby raised, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 23. Circular guide means for the spindles ofthe plurality of orienting mechanisms as they are revolved by the turret about the axis of the column or shaft 14 is provided by a pair of circular tracks or rings 208 or 210, best seen in Figs. 1, 4, or 6 and 8. These rings are mounted on the spaced vertical arms 2120f the brackets 296, Fig. 8. The outer arm of the brackets 206 also 'supports, in vertically spaced relation to the track 208, 2. Geneva lock ring 214, best seen in Figs. '6 and 8. Ge neva movement actuating or driving gear'sectors 216, 218, 229 and 222 are supported in 'angularly spaced relation on the Geneva lock ring 234, Fig. 6. The sectors 216, 218 and 22% are each provided with two teeth on its inner surface to engage the teeth of each Geneva gear 148 as the orienting mechanisms are brought thereto by the rotation of the turret.

The two teeth of each Geneva drive sector cause the spindle of each orienting mechanism to be rotated through an angle of ninety degrees. The Geneva drive sector 222 is provided, however, with only one tooth, as shown in Fig. 6, and this sector therefore rotates the spindle of each orienting mechanism only through an angle of fortyfive degrees for purposes which will presently appear.

Means is provided for holding each spindle from accidental rotation around its vertical axis when the orienting wheel extends radially of the turret. This means preferably comprises a fiat spring 224, Figs. 11 and 12, secured to an upstanding arm of the bracket 166 and pro vided with a V-shaped hook 226 at its outer end to engage a corner of the Geneva lock plate 150 and thereby prevent accidental rotation of the spindle 144.

The spindles of the orienting mechanisms are turned about the vertical axis not only by the Geneva drive sectors 216 to 222 but are initially turned to position as shown at station 2t in Figure 2 and as illustrated in Figure 20, by the Geneva locking ring 214. For that purpose the Geneva locking ring is formed at its leading end with a radially reduced or narrower portion 228, I

Figure 6, going to the thicker portion by a curved carnrning"surface or portion 239 which is adapted to engage a corner of the Geneva lock plate 150 of each orienting'mechanism as will be evident from Figures 19a and .20a'to cause the lock plate, and hence the spindle, to turn about a vertical axis to'the position as shown in Figure'ZOa in'which the curved locking surface 152; of the lock plate glides along the inner vertical edge 232 of thelocklng ring so that the ring holds the lock plates, and hence the spindles, against accidental rotation. t will of course be evident that the locking surface 152 of thelocking plates have the same radius of curvature as the locking edge 232 of the locking ring.

As the turret rotates the peach between any pair of grippers 86 and 88, the peach is carried in succession through positions 'or stations 19-49, 20-40, 21-21, 22-22, 221'221 and 2323 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6. While the fruit is being conveyed through this series of positions or stations it is, as will hereinafter be described more particularly, oriented as to stem indent and as to suture plane or the long axis of the stem indent.

After the fruit has been carried past position or station 23-23, the orienting wheel may, for one reason -or another, not be fully seated to its maximum depth in the stem indent, or in some few instances, the wheel lasts may be slightly Cooked with respect to the long axis 0f the stem indent. In order-to cause the wheel to enter into the deepest por fion of the cavity,'applicants have provided the vibrating mechanism 28. 'This vibrating mechanism 28, best shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, comprises a pair of frame bars 234 and 236 pivoted at their inner endson acornmo'n shaft 233 held in brackets 246 bolted to the side' frarne plate 2. The track or ring 204 whichsupports the'sp'indle raising'blocks 19 6; T98, 2015 and'ZhZ is cut away between a pair of the brackets 206 and an arcuate ring 242' of the same radius as the ring 204 is bolted to the outer ends of the arms I234 and'236 of the vibrating mechanism and bridges the gap between the ends of the ring 204. The arcuate ring 242 is 7 i substantially vertically, by an eccentric 244 secured to a shaft 246 mounted on a suitable bracket I248 bolted to theside frame plate '4.- A connecting rod 25% connects the eccentric 244 to a pivoted stud 252 bolted to the ring sector 242. The shaft .246 is provided with-a speed'adjustable pulley 254, driven by belt 256, in turn driven by a pulley 258 on high speed shaft 26.

The operation of the machine to accomplish rotation of peaches, or like indented and seamed fruit, as to indent and suture plane, is as follows: The peaches are dumped or deliveredinto the hopper or chute 68 and roll down the chute, passing from the chute onto the surface of the continuously rotating ring 56, the peaches being confined against'any substantial arcuate movement by the upstanding side walls 79, 72, 74 and 76 of the chute or hopper. As each opening 62 in the ring 56 passes beneath the open bottom of the chute, a peach will fall through the opening and through the aligned opening 64 in the con tinuously rotating main'turret disk 34 to a position as shown in Figure 8 on the stationary arcuate plate 78, the fruit being received between a pair of the open clamps or grippers 86 and 83. The peach rolls or slides along arcuate plate 78 until it reaches the end thereof and rolls therefrom onto an orienting wheel which, at that time, is positioned radially of the turret and is in driving engagement with its driving spool 194. At this'timethe peach passes position 19-19, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, and the parts of the orienting mechanism operate as is illustrated in Figures 19 and 19A.

Just prior to the arrival of the orienting mechanism at position 191 the cam roller 11*!) passes a short cut-out section 260 in the surface of the stationary control cam 112, as shown in Figure 2, and the clamps or grippers are momentarily closed to centralize thepeach with respect to the orienting wheel and are then opened as the cam passes out of the notch 26% so that thepeach is allowed freely to roll under the action of the orienting wheels, the clamps or grippers being spaced apart or opened sufiiciently so that they impose no substantial restriction on the free turning of the peach with the orienting wheel and the peach is maintained substantially entirely supported only by the orienting wheel. The clamps or grippers thereafter serve during the orienting operation merely to limit the tilting of the peach on the wheel and to prevent displacement of the peach out of driving engagement with the wheel. The V shape of the opposed clamps or grippers insures this correct centralizing of the peach on the orienting wheel.

The rotating orienting wheel causes the peach to rotate and if the indent is in the plane of the wheel, the indent will very quickly reach the wheel and the peach will therefore drop down on the wheel to the extent'that the wheel penetrates into the stem indent. If the indent not only is in theplane of the wheel, but the suture plane also lies in the plane of the wheel, the peach will of course be very quickly turned so that not only does the wheel penetrate the stem indent, but is also aligned with the long-axis thereof, and the wheel will accordingly penetrate farther or to its maximum extent for such peach into. the stern indent. It is very important for this'purpose that the wheel be relatively small in diameter as compared with the peach or like fruit to be oriented.

For orienting peaches the wheel should be approximately 1% inches in diameter, inch in width and with an arcuate edge surface of of an inch. Applicants have found that a wheel of that size is sufficiently large to rotate the peach and small enough so that when the wheel enters the stern indent crosswise of the long axis of such stem indent, the steep sides of the indent crosswise of the long axis thereof will prevent further turning of the peach as the wheel continues to rotate, and furthermore, that such a wheel is the proper size to enter deeply into the indent on a line with the long axis thereof, which coincides with the suture plane of the peach, so that the peach will not be further rotated as the rotation of the wheel continues after the suture plane has been located.

The elongated edge and plane side surface of the wheel will, in cooperation with the abrupt sides of the stern indent crosswise of its long axis, tend to keep the suture properly aligned with the wheel even through the peach may tilt somewhat on the wheel. The peach may not, of course, be originally received on the orienting wheel with its indent or suture plane lying in the vertical plane of the wheel, but may fall thereon in any position. If the peach falls on the orienting wheel with the long axis of its indent in a plane normal to the wheel plane, as illustrated in Figure 24, the continued rotation of the Wheel in its original position radially of the turret will not serve to orient the peach. Accordingly, as the turret continues to revolve, the peach moves to position 2020, Figures 2, 6 and 20. As it moves to this position the Geneva lo'ck plate 150 engages the curved camming surface 230 of the locking ring 214 and the plate and orienting spindle 144 are thereby rotated so that the'wheel is disposed at an angle of 45 to the radius of the turret,

as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 20A. The orienting wheel, however, continues to be driven by the drive spool 194 and the peach is now rotated about an axis which is inclined at an angle of 45 with its original axis of rotation. Due to the weight and inertia of the peach, during the turning of the orienting wheel about a vertical axis, the peach is not turned about a vertical axis.

If the peach had originally dropped on the orienting wheel with its indent in such a position that the turning of the wheel relative to the peach about a vertical axis caused the wheel to lie in the plane of the indent or transverse thereto, the continued rotation of the wheel in this new plane would of course quickly serve to locate the indent. If the peach had originally dropped on the wheel in such a position that the rotation of the wheel radially of the turret between positions 1919 and 2020 served to locate the indent and the wheel penetrated into the indent crosswise thereof so that the peach stopped rotating, it may and frequently does happen that the vertical turning of the wheel causes the wheel to be aligned with the long axis of the stern indent and therefore the wheel penetrates more deeply into the indent, as heretofore explained. Therefore, in those instances, the peach is fully oriented, not only as to stem indent, but also as to suture plane by the time it reaches position 2020.

However, if the peach originally dropped on the wheel in the position shown in Figure 24, then the rotation of the peach about the second axis may cause the indent to reach the wheel and lie thereon with the wheel extending crosswise, or the peach may continue to be rotated without bringing the stern indent into registration with the wheel.

As the turret continues to revolve and the orienting mechanism approaches position 2121, Figures 2 and 6, the bottom edge of the spindle 144 engages, and the spindle is raised by, the stationary cam block 196. This cam block raises the spindle, thereby lifting the orienting wheel out of engagement with the driving spool, and as the spindle passes over the top of the cam blocks, the Geneva gear 148 is engaged by the teeth of the Geneva gear sector 216 so that the spindle is rotated through an angle of the Geneva lock ring having a relieved portion or notch 262 below the teeth of the Geneva gear sector 216 so as to provide clearance permitting the locking plate to rotate with the spindle and to position the next curved surface 152 of the locking ring for locking engagement with the relieved edge surface of the locking ring beyond the notch 262. The wheel spindle having been rotated through an angle of 90 to the position shown in Figures 21 and 21A, the spindle now passes beyond the cam block 196 and drops down to reengage the orienting wheel with its drive spool. If the indent of the peach had been located prior to position 2020, but the wheel extended crosswise of the indent, this next vertical turning of the spindle would cause the wheel to swing about a vertical axis relative to the peach and may serve to align the wheel with the long axis of the indent, permitting the peach to drop farther down onto the wheel.

If the peach had orginally dropped on the wheel as shown in Figure 24 and had been rotated as indicated in Figure 25 by the wheel as it passes from position 2020 to position 2121, this vertical shifting or swinging of the wheel relative to the peach will then cause the wheel, rotating as in position 2121, to locate the indent but extend crosswise thereof as shown in Figure 26. As the turret continues to revolve, the orienting mechanism approaches position 2222, the spindle engages the next cam block 198 and the Geneva gear 148 engages the next Geneva gear sector 218 and the locking plate reaches the cut-out 264 in the locking ring 214. Hence, the gear spindle is again rotated about a vertical axis through an angle of 90 to a position shown in Figures 2, 22 and 22A. The peach, the indent of which has been located by the wheel extending crosswise of the indent, as illustrated in Figure 26, will, by this vertical rotation of the wheel spindle, bring the wheel into alignment with the long axis of the indent. If, during this vertical swinging on the wheel spindle, the suture plane is located by the wheel, the peach will, of course, turn about a vertical axis with the wheel as it goes to the position shown in Figure 21A.

As the turret continues to revolve, the orienting mechanism approaches position 221221, Figures 2 and 6, the Geneva gear 148 engages the Geneva gear sector 220 and the Geneva locking plate 150 reaches the notch 266 in the locking plate so that the wheel spindle is again rotated through an angle of 90, the orienting wheel duplicating the position with respect to the radial axis of the turret as illustrated in Figures 21 and 21A. If the peach has been oriented as to stem indent and the wheel lies crosswise thereof, this turning of the spindle will serve to orient it as to suture plane. If the peach has not been oriented as to stem indent, the rotation of the peach about this new axis will serve either to locate the stem indent or to locate both the stem indent and the suture plane.

As the turret continues to revolve and the orienting wheel approaches position 2323, the Geneva gear 148 is brought into engagement with the single toothed gear sector 222 and the orienting wheel is rotated about a vertical axis through an angle of 45 so that the wheel spindle is again radially aligned with the turret as illustrated in Figures 2, 23 and 23A. As the orienting wheel approaches this position the Geneva lock plate 150 reaches the reduced final end portion 268 and a corner of the block plate is engaged by the hook end 226 of the latch spring 224, Figure 11.

Applicants have found that practically percent of the peaches are oriented before the orienting mechanism reaches position 2323. Accordingly, the swinging of the wheel to a position in radial alignment with the turret serves to fix thesuture plane of the oriented peach with 'respect to the radial axis of the turret as a reference plane. It may happen that because the stem indents of peaches or like fruit are not per e tly smooth, but that. because of grooves left from stems ortwigs that bore the fruit, or creases on-the sides of the. stem indents, or;

small bumps, the wheel has not entered the stem indent to s l s pos i m. andlt e e, he t e ne has not been precisely oriented by the time the fruit reaches an p s p s on 3- ec r ins y s the t re continues to revolve, the orienting mechanism passes onto and over the ring sector 242, Figure 6, the wheel spindle passing over the cam block section. 27 9 at the and the wheel clears the bumps, creases, twigs or.

roughened surfaces on the indent sides of the peach-,and

the peach settles down onto the wheel= so that the wheel penetrates the maximum possible extent into the indent of the peach and the long axis of the peach is precisely located by the wheel.

Peaches are frequently, if not usually, not perfect spheres, and therefore, although the peach may be precisely oriented with respect to the long axis of the stem indent or the suture plane, the peach may tilt one way or the other on the wheel so that the suture plane is not truly vertical. Accordingly, mechanism has passed the vibrating track 242, the opposed V-shaped clamps or grippers 86 and 88 are released by the cam 112 for closing movement under the action of their connecting pring 114. The surface of the cam is therefore relieved in the area 272 sufliciently to permit the clamps to close to an extent necessary to grip the smallest sized peach which the machine is intended to handle. As these clamps or grippers move to closed position, they, by reason of their V shape, serve to recentralize the peach with it suture plane now extending in a truly vertical plane coincident with the vertical plane through the orienting wheel and the axis of the rotating turret. 122 of the clamps or grippers 86 and 88 serve to. apply to the peach, as the. grippers are moved to closed position, a force exerted in a downward direction from above the center line of the greatest diameter of the peach,

thereby insuring that the peach will be maintained in properly oriented position on the wheel and will not be lifted off the wheel or shifted with respect thereto.

During turning of the peach by the orienting wheel in its several and different angular positions about a vertical axis, the force applied to the peach by the rotating wheel, and the force of gravity acting on a misshapen or not strictly spherical peach may tendto tilt the peach with respect to the vertical plane through the orienting wheel and the peach will therefore impinge upon a surface of the peach receiving or holding means or grippers as illustrated in Figures 24 through 27. The peach grippersare preferably provided with chromium plated inner surfaces to reduce the friction between the peach and these gripper surfacs. As compared withsemi-cylindrical grippers, the, V-shaped grippers 86 and 88 serve to reduced the area of contact of the tilted peach with the grippers and therefore serve further to reduce the movement-retarding friction between the peach and the peachreceiving or holding means or grippers. I Y

It should be noted that during orientation of the fruit receiving or holding means or grippers 86-and 88 merely serve to maintain the fruit substantially centrally over the associated orienting wheel, so that the fruit contacting portions of the clamp. members are sufficiently above the after the orienting The tapered inner surface .120 and highest point of the. wheel that. the fruitcannotjam be; tween the wheel and the inner. surfaces of saidmeansor grippers This spacial relationship of the wheel to, the fruitcontacting surfaces of said means or grippers is-further important; in that it permits most ready movement of the fruit to a vertical position, withthe upperedgeof the wheel as a pivot point, when the clamp members are brought toward each other to effect the-final straightening of the fruit for precisely aligning the suture; plane of the; fruit withthe wheel plane.

After the fruit grippers have been moved to, closeclpo; sition to straighten the fruit on the orienting; wheel. as; shown in Figure 29, they may be slightly opened by earns 112 and any suitable mechanism, not showmmay beused to project into or through the openings of the turret, and. abduct the oriented fruit therefrom in a, predetermined orientation, prior to the time thatthe grippers pass under the chute bottom to receive another peach therefrom.

It will be obvious that changes may be. made in the. form, construction and arrangement of the parts with: out departing from the, spirit of the invention or sacrifice ing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reservedto make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim, as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for orienting indented fruit, a rotatable i orienting member adapted to support and rotate a fruit; resting thereon, said member being shaped to enter the, stem indent ofsaid fruit when in registration with said indent, means arranged to maintain a whole fruit support-v ed uponsaid orienting member so that, substantially the entire weight of said fruit is imposed on said orienting member, said means resisting displacement of thefruit, from. said member upon rotation of said member, means,- for rotating said orienting member torotate the fruit andmeans for causing said maintaining means togrip the fruit after the orienting member has entered the stern indent of the fruit and while the fruitis supportedwholly on said orienting member.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 whereintsaid; orientating member is a wheel rotatingin avertical plane.

3. In a device for orientating indented fruit, a shiftableorientating member shaped to engage and rotate a ,fruit, body and enter the stem indent thereof when inregistra tion with said indent, means, arranged to maintain a fruitbody supported solely upon and by said member and to resist displacement of the fruit body uponoperation. of; said member, means for operating said orientating mem; bar to rotate and orientate thefruit body to bring therv orientating member into said stem indent, and, means; for vibrating said orientating member with said orientating member engaged into the stem indent, to effect the further turning of the fruit body in respect, to the orientating member while the orientating member is so engaged.

4. In a device for orientating indented fruit, a shiftable orientating member shaped. to engage and rotatea flil it body and enter the stem indent thereof when in registration with said indent, means arranged to maintaina fruit y body supported solely upon said memberand to resist lateral displacement of the fruit body upon operation of said member, said maintaining means comprising a plurality ofv spaced circumferentially disposed members, means for shifting said orientating member to rotatesand orientate the fruit body to bring the orientating member into said stem indent, means for maintaining said main: taining members apart for free rotation of said, fruit body therebetween during orientation, and means for closing said maintaining members against said fruit body after a predetermined orientating period.

5. In a fruit orienting device, an orienting wheel adapt: ed tosupport indented and seamed fruit, means forreceiv; ing and confining the fruit against falling off the wheel, means for mounting said wheel for rotation to turn the fruit and for revolution relative to the fruit about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the wheel, drive means, including a releasable drive connection for rotating the wheel, other drive means including a releasable drive connection for revolving the wheel, and means for breaking one of said drive connections while making the other drive connection whereby the wheel is sequentially rotated and revolved.

6. In a machine for orienting indented fruit comprising a fruit conveyor continuously movable at a uniform rate, spaced fruit orienting wheels carried by said conveyor, means for mounting said wheels on said conveyor for rotation about axes in a plane parallel to the path of movement of the conveyor, common drive connections for rotating said wheels about said axes and means for shifting said wheels about other axes transverse to the axes of rotation of said Wheels.

7. In a fruit orienting machine, a fruit conveyor including a turret rotatable continuously at a uniform rate, a plurality of fruit orienting wheels in angularly spared relation about said turret and means for mounting said wheels for continuous revolution with said turret about the axis of rotation of said turret, means for rotating said wheels about their own axes during at least a portion of their revolution about the axis of rotation of the turret, and means for revolving each wheel about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the wheel while the wheel is revolving about the axis of rotation of the turret.

8. In a fruit orienting machine, a fruit conveyor including a turret rotatable continuously at a uniform rate, a plurality of fruit orienting wheels in angularly spaced relation about said turret and mounted for continuous revolution with said turret about the axis of rotation of said turret, means for rotating said wheels about their own axes during their revolution about the axis of rota tion of the turret, and means for revolving each Wheel about an axis spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation of the turret as the wheels are revolving about the axis of rotation of the turret while on said wheel.

9. In a fruit orienting machine, a plurality of spaced fruit holding means mounted for revolution about a common axis, means for feeding fruits individually into said holding means, a plurality of fruit orienting wheels, one for each of said fruit holding means, means for revolving said fruit orienting wheels about the common axis of revolution of the fruit holding means, said fruit holding wheels being positioned to engage fruit from each holding means, means for rotating the wheels about individual axes as they are revolved, and means for additionally revolving each wheel about an axis transverse to its axis of rotation as the wheels are revolved about the axis of revolution of the holding means.

10. In a fruit orienting machine, a plurality of pairs of fruit receiving clamps, means for mounting each pair of clamps for relative movement to open and closed positions, means for mounting said plurality of pairs of fruit receiving clamps for continuous movement at a uniform rate to feed the fruit received therein, a plurality of fruit orienting means one for each of said pair of fruit clamps, means for mounting each Wheel below an associated pair of clamps to support the fruit when loosely confined Within the clamp while the clamps are open, means for mounting said wheels for continuous movement at said uniform rate parallel to the path of movement of the clamps, means for roating each wheel about an individual axis to orient the fruit loosely confined within the open clamps associated with the wheel, and means for closing each pair of clamps after the fruit therein has been oriented by the wheel for vertically aligning the fruit with the orienting wheel.

11. In a machine for orienting indented fruit, a plurality of pairs of fruit receiving clamps, means for mounting each pair of clamps for relative movement to open and closed positions, means for mounting said pairs of clamps for movement along a predetermined path to feed the fruit received in said clamps along said predetermined path, a plurality of orienting wheels, one for each of said pair of clamps, means for mounting said pairs of clamps for movement therewith along a path parallel to said predetermined path, each pair of clamps being constructed when moved to closed position to grip and centralize the fruit with respect to the orienting Wheel associated therewith, means for rotating each orienting wheel about an individual axis during movement along said parallel path to orient the fruit loosely confined in an associated pair of clamps when the clamps are open, means for feeding fruit individually into said pairs of clamps and into engagement with the orienting Wheels, and means for first closing each pair of clamps when the fruit is received therein to centralize the fruit with respect to the orienting wheel, thereafter opening each pair of clamps to permit free rotation of the fruit and moving each pair of clamps to closed'position after the fruit confined therein has been oriented for aligning the suture plane of the fruit with the plane of the wheel.

12. A mechanism for orienting fruit loosely confined within a fruit receiver, comprising an orienting Wheel, means for mounting said wheel for rotation about one axis, a friction drive member engageable with the periphery of said wheel for rotating the same to rotate the fruit, means mounting said wheel for turning about an axis transverse to its axis of rotation, means for moving said wheel into and out of engagement with said member, and means for turning said Wheel about the second mentioned axis while it is out of engagement with said member.

13. In a fruit orienting device, an orienting wheel shaped to support indented and seamed fruit and to enter the indent of such fruit when in registration therewith, means for receiving and confining the fruit against falling off the wheel, means for mounting said wheel for supporting the fruit thereon, means for turning said wheel about its axis to turn the fruit, and means for turning said wheel about an axis angularly disposed to the axis of turning of the Wheel, and means for vibrating said fruit while on said wheel.

14. In a fruit orienting device, an orienting wheel shaped to support indented and seamed fruit and to enter the indent of such fruit when in registration therewith, means for receiving and confining the fruit against falling off the Wheel, means for mounting said wheel for supporting the fruit thereon, means for turning said wheel about its axis to turn the fruit, means for turning said wheel about an axis angularly disposed to the wheel axis, and means for vibrating the fruit while the Wheel is not turning.

15 In a device for orientating indented fruit, a shiftable orientating member adapted to engage a fruit body and enter the stem indent thereof when in registration with said indent, fruit positioning means arranged to maintain a fruit body supported upon said member, a common conveyor for supporting said orientating member and said maintaining means, and means for shifting said orientating member to orientate the fruit body to engage the orientating member into said stem indent.

16. In a device for orientating indented fruit, a shiftable orientating member shaped to engage a fruit body and enter the stem indent thereof when in registration with said indent, means arranged to maintain a fruit body supported upon said member, means for shifting said orientating member to bring the orientating member into said stem indent, and means for vibrating the fruit body after the orientating thereof and with the orientating member engaged into the stem indent to effect the further turning of the fruit body in respect to the orientating member While the orientating member is so engaged,

17. In a device for orientating indented fruit, a shiftable orientating member shaped to engage a fruit body and enter the stem indent thereof when in registration with said indent, means for turning said fruit body, means operable to maintain the fruit body supported upon said orienting member and to resist displacement of the fruit body upon turning of said fruit body, means for shifting said orientating member to orientate the fruit body, and means for straightening the fruit body to orientate the stem axis of the fruit body after orientating the stem indent thereof.

18. In a fruit orienting device, orienting means shaped to enter the stem indent of a fruit when in registration therewith, means for mounting said fruit for rotation about diflferent axes of rotation, means for so turning said fruit to cause the stem indent substantially to register with said orienting means upon such registration and means for vibrating said fruit when said orienting means is in said stem indent.

19.. In a machine for processing indented fruit, an indent fitting member mounted on a vertical axis and shaped to. fit the elongated indent of a seamed fruit by having a long dimension in a horizontal plane, means for positioning a fruit with at least part of the weight of said fruit on said indent fitting member, means for turning said member over a relatively long are, and means for turning said indent fitting member over a relatively short are in the same plane.

20. In a machine for processing indented fruit, an indent fitting member mounted on a vertical axis and shaped to fit the elongated indent of a seamed fruit by having a long dimension in a horizontal plane, means for positioning a fruit with at least part of the weight of said fruit on said indent fitting member, means for turning said indent fitting member around its vertical axis to change the position of said long dimension in said horizontal plane, and means for rapidly vibrating said memher after said turning.

21. In a machine for processing seamed, indented fruit, an orientation member being longer than it is wide and being centrally higher than at the edges thereof, said member fitting and entering the stem indent of a fruit body when in registration with said indent, said member being mounted to rotate on a vertical axis, means arranged to hold a fruit body supported upon said member with substantially the entire weight of said fruit carried by said member, and means for turning said member on its axis to settle said fruit on said member to the deepest registration of indent and said member.

22. Apparatus inaocordance with claim 21 wherein the indent contacting surfaces of the orientation member are rounded.

23., Ina machine for processing fruit having an elongated indent, a carrier, means for progressing said carrier, a plurality of fruit positioning means attached. to said carrier, an elongated indent fitting member moving with said carrier andpositioned below a fruit in a fruit positioningmeans to support at least part of the weight of a fruit in said fruit positioning means, and means for turning said elongated indent fitting member on its axis as said carrier is progressed, from a position wherein the elongation of said indent fittting member is in a predetermined position with respect to. the direction of motion of said carrier to a position 30 to away from said direction of motion.

24. In a machine for processing fruit having an elongated indent, a carrier, means for progressing said carrier, a plurality of fruitpositioning means attached to said carrier, an indent fitting member elongated in a horizontal plane and mounted to rotate on a vertical axis moving with said carrier and positioned below a fruit in a fruit positioning means to support at least part of the weight of a fruit in said fruitpositioning means, and means for turning said elongated indent fitting member on its axis as said carrier is progressed from a position wherein the elongation of said indent fitting member is in a predetermined plane with respect to the direction of motion of said carrier to. a position;30' to 80 away from saidplane and past said plane to a point 30 to 80 on the other side thereof, said means'terminating said turning with said member in said plane. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,742,653 Goranson Jan. 7, 1930 2,106,997 Fenner Feb. 1-, 1938 2,193,353 Thompson Mar. 12, 1940 2,220,511 Carroll Nov. 5, 1940 2,232,209 Carroll Feb. 18, 1941 2,238,970 Carroll Apr. 22, 1941 2,308,039 'Ashlock Ian. 12, 1943 2,387,709 Ashlock Oct. 30, 1945 2,406,311 Ashlock Aug. 27, 1946 2,426,433 Carter Aug. 26, 1947 

